2013 Infiniti FX37 RWD Review By Carey Russ

A decade ago crossovers were poised to take over the
American automotive world. The formula was: SUV-like looks, with car-like
construction and comfort. Almost by default, this meant unibody
construction with a transverse front engine and front-wheel drive
(optionally all-wheel) for space efficiency and familiar handling
characteristics, and raised ground clearance for appearance and maybe
light-duty fire road use.

Infiniti did things a bit differently with its FX when it
debuted for model year 2003.

While it has unibody construction and a fully-independent
suspension, the Infiniti FX was, and is, a longitudinal front-engine, rear-
or all-wheel drive machine. Where the view out the front of most crossovers
shows maybe a flat expanse of hood, the driver of an FX sees two bulging
fenders, as if he or she was in a sports car. Infiniti calls its FX a
"performance crossover", and offers it with a choice of V6 or V8 engines.

The FX's underpinnings are the Nissan/Infiniti FM platform,
making it a relative to Infiniti's G-series sedans, coupes, and
convertibles, and M-series sedans, and Nissan's 370Z sports car. No trucks
or crossovers in that family tree! Its styling is, as ever, an interesting
combination of crossover and sports car forms and cues. The original
version gave way to a second generation for model year 2009, and that got a
mid-product cycle facelift for 2012.

The biggest change for 2013 is that the V6-powered FX35
becomes the FX37 as the namesake 3.5-liter V6 is replaced by a 3.7-liter
version. Maximum horsepower rises from 303 to 325. A seven-speed automatic
transmission means that there is no loss of fuel economy, which is a
reasonable (for a two-ton vehicle) 17 mpg city, 24 highway for the
rear-wheel drive version according to the EPA. I got 18 with mostly city
driving, but that quickly went to over 22 after a couple hundred miles on
the highway.

Electronic technology is an Infiniti specialty, and the FX
can be equipped with nearly every electronic assistance system known. My
test car had Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning,
Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Collision Warning, Distance Control
Assist, a voice-recognition navigation system, and Bluetooth® streaming
audio. But to me, the most useful feature was the Around View® monitor,
which combines input from front, rear, and side video monitor cameras into
a virtual overhead view, with wheel position and external objects noted.
The FX is not a small vehicle, so this is quite convenient when parking in
a tight spot. It's also very good in my narrow and hazard-intensive
driveway -- it's amazing how many hazard-detection systems squawk at the
harmless bushes and fail to see the 4x4 posts at my driveway entrance. No
such problem with the FX.

It's a comfortable vehicle for highway travel, with good
performance and fuel economy for its size and power. Style and drivetrain
layout triumph over the usual crossover virtue of space efficiency, as
interior space is not as great for the FX's footprint size would indicate.
But it still offers as much interior and luggage space as a midsize sports
sedan, and is something different.

APPEARANCE: You want something distinctive? Here it is. The
FX is too big to be a hatchback, has too much ground clearance to be a
wagon -- and the proportions are wrong, with too little rear overhang and a
too-sloped rear window -- but, with its long hood and passenger cabin set
to the rear, has the wrong shape to be a generic crossover. It's something
different, and that's good enough. Last year's restyle brought the newest
interpretation of the Infiniti grille and some interesting angles to the
front corners. The undertray visible from the front is for aerodynamics,
not a skid plate, but the dark plastic trim that surrounds the bottom of
the vehicle does hint at "crossover", as do optional roof rails.

COMFORT: Inside, especially with the options of the
Technology, Deluxe Touring, and Premium Packages with which my test example
was equipped, the FX35 is every bit a luxury touring vehicle. Don't look
for a high crossover ceiling or third-row passenger capability. From the
inside, the FX seems to be a midsize luxury-performance sedan, with an
unusual trunk arrangement. The Deluxe Touring Package's quilted leather
seats look great - and the fronts are heated and cooled, for optimum
comfort in all temperatures. Interior design seems more European than Asian
or American, and is flowingly stylish but cohesive and places all controls
and necessary information well, with no glare over the instruments or on
the windshield. Standard amenities are as expected -- power everything,
pushbutton start/stop, leather seating, backup camera, all current audio
connectivity, tilt and slide moonroof, and more. Options exist to please
any need or desire. Seat comfort is as good as should be expected for the
class, with plenty of room in front and rear. Yes, there's a central tunnel
so the rear center position is compromised, as in nearly every other
vehicle. Still, with each section of the 60/40 split rear seatback
separately reclinable, the comfort level is high. Luggage space behind the
seats should be adequate for a couple on vacation -- and that is the FX's
mission in life.

SAFETY: In addition to the usual standard safety
considerations in design and construction, full complement of airbag
systems, strong four-wheel vented disc brakes with antilock, electronic
brake-force distribution, brake assist, vehicle dynamic control and
traction control, Infiniti offers a host of optional systems including
Distance Control Assist to reduce tailgating, Intelligent Cruise Control,
Intelligent Brake Assist with Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure
Prevention, which can apply the brakes on one side of the vehicle to
prevent it wandering out of its lane.

RIDE AND HANDLING: Taking what, with normal ground clearance,
would be a luxury-sport wagon and raising the ride height to over seven
inches doesn't seem particularly logical. But then, the FX is a vehicle
that will sell more on emotion than logic, and it does handle better than
might be expected given its ride height and 4200-pound mass. Its
double-wishbone front, multilink rear suspension makes use of aluminum to
reduce unsprung weight for better roadholding, but those 20-inch alloy
wheels and P265/50 tires have plenty of unsprung weight by themselves. The
suspension tuning is moderately firm, for a supple ride and minimal body
roll - this is a crossover that can be driven in a spirited manner without
motion sickness. It's a fairly large vehicle and is more at home on the
highway or a wide secondary road than an extremely narrow country road.

PERFORMANCE: Extra power is always welcome, especially when
there's no fuel consumption penalty. And, as the old saying goes, there's
no replacement for displacement. Enlarging the FX's namesake V6 from 3.5 to
3.7 liters gains 22 horsepower at the top for 325 (at 7000 rpm). Maximum
torque is 267 lb-ft at 5200 rpm. Infiniti's "Variable Valve Event and Lift"
(VVEL) system controls valve timing and lift for both intake and exhaust to
optimize power, efficiency, and emissions. There is good power from nearly
idle all the way to redline, so no need to spin the engine hard and
thirstily. A seven-speed automatic transmission also helps both performance
and economy -- but, like nearly all automatics today it's programmed for
fuel economy first and that can result in some hunting for gears on long or
steep grades. That's easily dealt with by first using Sport mode, which
holds lower gears longer. If more power is needed, shift manually while in
Sport mode. Gearchanges are quick, and revs are matched on downshifting.
Around town, with some highway use, I saw around 18 mpg but more highway
miles raised the average to 22.

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